Monday Night House Fire
Published 3:47 pm Tuesday, July 2, 2013
CUMBERLAND – Five local volunteer fire departments and one volunteer rescue squad responded late Monday night to a house fire in southern Cumberland County.
The house was located on Route 45 across from Mahan Road.
It was unoccupied at the time, according to Cumberland Fire Marshal Eric Gilbert, who confirmed that the former residents were in the process of moving. Gilbert says that although the cause of the fire will be investigated, it appears that the fire was accidental and it is not being considered suspicious.
Randolph and Farmville Volunteer Fire Departments were called to the fire first, according to Randolph Volunteer Fire Department Lieutenant, Dan Pempel.
Pempel told The Herald that when Randolph Volunteer Fire Department arrived, the house was fully involved.
Cumberland, Prospect and Rice Volunteer Fire Departments all assisted in fighting the blaze, providing tankers and additional manpower, according to Pempel.
Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad was also on the scene of the fire, he stated.
In all, Pempel estimates that approximately 50 firefighters helped fight the blaze.
Although the house was destroyed, firefighters were able to contain the fire, according to Pempel.